On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, India’s Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was confirmed killed in a fiery plane crash along with four others when the chartered aircraft he was aboard crashed near Baramati in Pune district. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated the plane went down during an attempted landing and no survivors were found at the scene.
The aircraft involved was a Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK), operated by a private charter firm, which departed from Mumbai en route to Baramati — Pawar’s home constituency where he was scheduled to campaign for local elections. The crash occurred as the jet attempted an emergency landing, bursting into flames on impact and leaving debris scattered across the open field.
Pawar, a senior political leader aged 66, was a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics and led a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition. His death marks a significant political loss for the state, where he had long held influence and played key roles in governance.
Among the four others killed were two crew members and two of Pawar’s staff, including his personal security personnel. Authorities and eyewitnesses reported thick smoke and fire at the crash site, underlining the severity of the impact and the challenges faced by first responders.
National leaders expressed profound grief over the tragedy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to offer condolences, describing the incident as “tragic” and extending his thoughts to the families affected, while praying for their strength in this difficult time.
This tragic event adds to ongoing concerns over aviation safety in India, coming shortly after other recent aviation incidents. Investigators from DGCA are expected to probe the cause of the crash, including technical and operational factors
Also read: Fire Erupts Near Plane, Passengers Evacuated
